Method and apparatus for shelling nuts



Nov. 4 1924. 1,514,237

D. TENNEY METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SHELLING NUTS Filed Feb. 9, 1920 Inn Patented Nov. 4, 1924,

lldhllitkm STATEfi earner oFricE. V

DWIGHT TEIINEY, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE FRANKLIN BAKER COMPANY, OE PHILADELPHIA, PENNS VANIA.

To all whom. it may concern:

Be it known that T, DWIGHT TrNNnr, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods and Apparatus for Shelling Huts, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the shelling of nuts, particularly such nuts as cocoanuts and aims to provide a sequence of operations which will result in the complete removal of the shell. from the meat or kernel, substantially without injury to the kernel, and in a most economical and expeditious manner.

The invention also has to do with a form of apparatus well adapted for carrying out the process which is the principal subjectmatter of this application, though it is to be understood that the apparatus shown is not the only one which might be employed, and that I contemplate power-operated devices having features of construction and operation as will be hereinafter suggested.

The invention also includes a preliminary treatmentfor the nuts which facilitates the subsequent shelling operation proper.

Other objects and aims of the invention, more or less broad than those stated'above, together with the advantages inherent, will be in part obvious and in part specifically re ferred to in the course of the following description of the elements, combinations, arrangements of parts, and applications of principles constituting the invention; and the scope of protection contemplated will appear from the'claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which are to be taken as part of this specificatiomand in which I have shown an illustrative form of embodiment of apparatus, Figure 1 is a central vertical sectional view with some parts in elevation, illustrating a form of device which is intended to be operated in the carrying out of the process hereinafter described; Figure 2 is a view in general similar to Figure 1 but showing the shell-removing elements proper, the view being taken at right angles to Figure 1 and with the operating wheel removed; Figure 3 is a plan view of the seats in the shell-removing elements on an enlarged scale, showing how the shell-engaging teeth or spikes may bewcircu- YLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYL- METHGD AND APPARATUS FOR SHELLING NUTS.

Application filed February a, 1920. semi no. 357,226.

larly arranged and with ends beveled in a direction contrary to the direction of twist or rotation of the nut, ashereinafter explained; and Figure l is a collective view showing one of the spikes in two of its rotative positions, separated by an arc of 90.

Referring to the numerals on the draw:

eal movement of the seat member 8 is ac:

complished as by means of a hand wheel or nut 12 which is interiorly threaded to engage corresponding threads 14 on the upward extension of the post 9. Thus is provided a slow-motion means for raising and loweringv the seat element 8, though Ialso contemplate that the penetration of the shell by the spikes may be accomplished with a quick motion or slight shock; under some conditions this might reduce the amount of force necessary to be employed. The seat element itself is of the general conformation shown, reference being had particularly to Figure 8 from which it will appear that the seat member is concave and generally circular, and that it carries a number of screw-threaded teeth or spikes 15, shown more particularly in Figure 4, which spikes may advantageously though not necessarily have a kerfed end 16 for purposes of adjustment and a spike end 17, beveled off as shown. The spike ends extend through the inner wall of the concavity of the seat member and are here shown in circular arrangement,with the bevel of the spike ends arranged contrary to the direction ofrotation of the shell when it is subjected to the twisting operation hereinafter explained. 7

There is a lower seat element 18, in gen eral similar to the seat element 8 and pr0- vided with spikes 15. This seat element 18 has a downwardly extending post 19 fitting in a suitable guideway in the bottom bracket of a hand-wheel or the like 25.

It will be understood that the spikes are adjusted in the respective seats so that their pointed ends will project beyond the face of the seatmember just sulticiently to penetrate the thick outer shell of th nut, but substantially without penetrating the kernel which is'therein. The upper seat member is now backed off and a cocoanut or the like indicated. by the numeral 26 is positioned with the one polar end within the lower seat member 18, and with the polar axis 01" the nut substantially vertical. The upper seat member 8 is now caused to travel downwardly with a slow but positive motion, or more rapidly and with a final quick penetrating shock, as desired, the result being to engage both ends of the nut firmly with the seat member and to drive the several spike ends 17 into and substantially through the outer shell of the nut, at the polar end portions thereof. An additional result ot the approach of the seat members, and the compression of the nut therebetween, is apt to be the bowing or distortion of the shell.

This may have the effect of loosening theconnection between shell and nut, facilitating removal of the shell.

The shell is now twisted off from the kernel and this may be done by causing rotation of the lower seat member 18. If it is assumed that Figure 3 shows a plan view of the lower seat member, then it is to be understood that the lower seat member 18 -is rotated in a contra-clockwise direction,-

. member results in taking: oit the shell without any injurv to the contained kernel. Of course it will be understood that power means may be employed in place of the hand-p0wered device shown, and that instead of having only one of the seat members'rot'ate, they may both rotate, either at differential speeds, or in opposite directions.

greater speed, so that the breaking of the connective tissue between the shell and the kernel may be properly accomplished.

I have found it of great advantage to prepare cocoanuts or the like for the shell removing: process thus tar described by subjecting them to the action of steam above atmospheric pressure for a brief period. Because of certain considerations which need not be stated here, I believe that this steaming; treatment causes the kernel to contract and thus break the hold, at one end or the other, of the small fibres which extend from the shell proper into the skin or paring of the kernel. At any rate I find that when I employ this preliminary treatment and then twist the shells of? in the manner described, or break them off or re move them in any other way, they come oil quickly and easily and without injury to the meat. The steaming or other preliminary treatment will of course be carried on under such conditions of temperature, pressure, time, etc, that there will be no deleterious chemical, changes in the kernel, as for instance discoloration. l have said that the polar. ends of the nut are received by the respective seat members, but it will be understood that any diametrically or axially opposed portions of the nut may be engagged by the seat members. For various reasons, however, it is preferred to use the polar ends to receive the twisting spikes.

So far as the apparatus is concerned I have made it clear that I do not wish to be limited to any details of construction except as these are required by the claims; and similarly so far asregards the process. the description I have given of the steps of operation and the sequence thereof. is illustrative merely and not to be taken in a limiting sense.

I claim 1; The method which consists in providing opposed seatinembers adapted to receive opposite portions of a nut and having portions for penetrating the shell of the nut. placing a nut between the seat members with opposite portions in the seat members, causing relative approach of the seat members, one towards the other, to bring about penetration of the shell by the penetrating" lOO i'ng relative rotation of the seat inen'ibers, thereby twisting oil the snell.

3. The method which consists in providing opposed shell penetrating scat memlgiers adapted to receive and positively grip opposite portions of a nut, placing a nut between the seat members with opposite portions in the seat members, and causing a cracking action by the relative rotation of the seat members WllllG maintaining the positions of the seat members relatively to the portions of the nut which are therein re spectively.

The method which consists in providing opposed shell penetratin seat members adapted to receive and positively grip opposite portons of a nut, placing a nut between the seat members with opposite portions in the seat members, and causing a cracking action by the relative rotation of the seat members While (1) holding the seat members against movement of separation relatively to each other, and maintaining those portions of the nut which are in the seat members against rotative movement relatively to the seat members in Which the respective nut portions are seated.

5. A device of the kind described, comprising opposed seat members, at least one of Which is provided With means to penetrate a nut-shell, means for causing relative approach or separation 01 the seat members, and means for causing a cracking action by the relative rotation thereof.

6. A device of the kind described, comprising opposed seat members, means for causing relative approach or separation thereof, and means for causing relative rotation thereof, the seat members having adthereof. and means for causing a cracking action by tlierelative rotation thereof, the said seat members having tooth members With beveled ends to positlvely grip a nut.

8. A device of the kind described, comprisin opposed seat members, means for causing relative approach or separation thereof, and means for causing relative rotation thereof, the seat mei'nbers having screw-threaded teeth members with beveled ends.

9. A device of the kind described, comprising opposed seat members, means for causing relative approach or separation thereof, and means for causing relative rotation thereof, the seat members having threaded tooth members With beveled ends and circularly arranged.

10. The method of removing shells from nuts which consists in positively gripping opposite portions of a nut between opposed shell penetrating members and then causing a cracking action by a relative rotary movement of said members.

11. The method of removing shells from nuts Which consists in positively gripping opposite portions of a nut between opposed shell penetrating seat members and then causing a cracking action by a relative rotary movement of one seat member to the other.

In testimony whereof I alliX my signature.

DWIGHT TENNEY. 

